Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Anti-Semitism at the University of California: Its getting hard to ignore

Recent instances of anti-Semitism at University of California
campuses compel us to speak out against bigotry and hate, wherever it
might occur and whoever might be targeted.

Like other members of the University of California, we were appalled
when student government representatives at UCLA doubted the ability of a
Jewish student to serve on the Judicial Board without bias simply
because of her faith. While the student government representatives
ultimately realized they were wrong to treat this student as they had,
and voted unanimously to appoint her to the Board, the initial action
wounded the entire UC community.

Earlier this year, vandals at UC Davis defaced a Jewish fraternity
house with anti-Semitic graffiti, including two swastikas — a hateful
affront to all across the UC system. Administrative leaders and students
quickly decried the crime as repugnant and a gross violation of our
values. But the damage was done, to all of us.

Anti-Semitic incidents such as these, as well as bigotry directed
against any members of the UC community because of their faith,
ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, will not be tolerated. They
deserve our condemnation. We applaud the UCLA and UC Berkeley student
governments for unanimously passing resolutions condemning
anti-Semitism.

All of us bear responsibility for preserving and strengthening the
University of California’s bedrock values of respect, inclusion and
civility. Doing so requires the constant attention and the enduring
commitment of every member of our community, every day, everywhere.